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Winter Fuel Payments

Volume 470: debated on Thursday 24 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on (a) the adequacy of and (b) changing the winter fuel allowance in light of increasing fuel prices; and if he will make a statement. (181491)

The Government keep all tax and welfare policies under review and any changes are considered as part of the normal Budget and Spending Review processes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average percentage of pensioners’ energy bills that will be met by the winter fuel allowance this year. (181492)

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 6 December 2007, Official Report, column 1512W.